Bay Commissioner lobbies for local causes in nation's capital

Monday

Jul 31, 2017 at 7:00 AM

COLLIN BREAUX News Herald Reporter @PCNHCollinB

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Mr. Smith once went to Washington, and this week was Bay County Commissioner Tommy Hamm’s turn.

Hamm traveled to the nation’s capital to advocate for issues affecting the area, such as funding transportation and infrastructure funding, reimbursing for emergency medical services for Medicaid and Medicare and keeping a federal courthouse in Panama City.

“This opportunity came up and we thought it would be a good thing to take advantage of,” Hamm said Thursday in a phone interview from D.C.

Hamm’s trip started Wednesday and is part of the Florida County Commissioners’ Conference, where local leaders across the state spoke with federal department officials on their community's concerns. The conference was the first of its kind, Hamm said.

Transportation and infrastructure funding were a major concern, according to Hamm, who said Florida commissioners heard there may not be a federal bill addressing the issue due to Congress focusing on healthcare.

Hamm also advocated to keep full funding in place for the Coast Guard Offshore Patrol Cutter contract with Eastern Shipbuilding, which is expected to be a huge benefit for the local economy. Millions have already been cut from the contract already, he said. The total contract was originally valued at $10.5 billion.

Another regional issue Hamm lobbied for while in Washington is reducing Medicare rates for communities that subsidize local clinics.

“Bay County spends $200 million on that program,” Hamm said. The program, he said, funds local clinics to help people "keep out" of the ER.

Hamm is no stranger to Washington since he vacationed there several years ago. This week has been a similarly pleasant trip for the Bay County Commissioner.

“It’s been nice,” Hamm said. “The weather’s been great.”

Hamm returned to the county on Saturday.

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